Press Releases

Gohmert on Request to Read Revisions in Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Congressman Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement regarding his request to read the revisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act:

"Last night some of the elected members of Congress heard that substantial changes were being made to H.R. 6201, the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” that the House passed in the wee hours Saturday morning without being afforded the luxury of time to read the final bill before we voted. I read the 9pm version but was given no time to read or compare the midnight version.

Once again, because the Saturday morning bill was rushed so hysterically to passage, it requires more pages of changes, supposedly about 46 pages of 'technical corrections,' some of which are truly substantive and not just “technical” corrections to a bill that was 110 pages long. The last draft of the 'technical changes' I saw was 87 pages long. The Democrats are writing the so-called 'corrections' as we speak. Having someone here in DC prepared to object forces the Democrat leadership to at least have the law changes drafted before they are approved by a Unanimous Consent vote. I cannot in good conscience give my consent to something that has not been finished or made available to Members of Congress before it is up for a vote.

This coronavirus is doing enough damage to people without Congress compounding the problem to rush through a bill and another corrected bill just to say we did something. We should be attempting to minimize the damage, not piling on. My constituents did not elect the California delegation to represent them, they elected me—and that’s what I am trying to do.

I will not give my consent without first reading these very serious changes that will hopefully minimize bankruptcies caused by the virus rather than causing more. The final draft has still not been finished. I have spoken with Kevin McCarthy and the President who both understand my concerns. Its easy to talk to the President when we completely share the same driving desire to make America even greater."